CHAPTER 651a. CASINO WAR Sec.
651a.1. Definitions.
651a.2. Casino War table; physical characteristics.
651a.3. Cards; number of decks; dealing shoe.
651a.4. Opening of the table for gaming.
651a.5. Shuffle and cut of the cards.
651a.6. Casino War card rankings.
651a.7. Wagers.
651a.8. Procedure for dealing the cards.
651a.9. Procedures for completion of each round of play; collection and payment of wagers.
651a.10. Payout odds.
651a.11. Irregularities.Authority The provisions of this Chapter 651a issued under 4 Pa.C.S. § 13A02(1)—(4), unless otherwise noted.
Source The provisions of this Chapter 651a adopted May 18, 2012, effective May 19, 2012, 42 Pa.B. 2877, unless otherwise noted.
Cross References This chapter cited in 58 Pa. Code § 651b.1 (relating to Top Card).
§ 651a.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Initial Wager—The wager that shall be made by a player prior to any cards being dealt to participate in the round of play.
Original deal—The first card that is dealt to each player and the dealer to determine the result for the Initial Wager in a round of play.
Tie hand—A hand in the original deal or War deal when the rank of a player’s card and the rank of the dealer’s card are equal.
War—The decision of a player, in accordance with the option offered under § 651a.9(c)(2) (relating to procedures for completion of each round of play; collection and payment of wagers), to place a War Wager when there is a tie hand on the original deal.
War deal—The deal of the cards that follows the placement of a War Wager.
War Wager—A wager, equal to the player’s Initial Wager, that is required to be made if the player elects to go to War with the dealer.§ 651a.2. Casino War table; physical characteristics.
(a) Casino War shall be played at a table having betting positions for no more than nine players on one side of the table and a place for the dealer on the opposite side of the table.
(b) The layout for a Casino War table shall be submitted to the Bureau of Gaming Operations and approved in accordance with § 601a.10(a) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment) and contain, at a minimum:
(1) The name or logo of the certificate holder.
(2) A separate betting area designated for the placement of Initial and War Wagers for each player.
(3) A separate betting area designated for the placement of Tie Wagers for each player.
(4) The payout odds for permissible wagers offered by the certificate holder. If the payout odds are not inscribed on the layout, a sign identifying the payout odds shall be posted at each Casino War table.
(c) Each Casino War table must have a drop box and a tip box attached on the same side of the gaming table as, but on opposite sides of, the dealer, as approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g). The Bureau of Casino Compliance may approve an alternative location for the tip box when a card shuffling device or other table game equipment prevents the placement of the drop box and tip box on the same side of the gaming table as, but on opposite sides of, the dealer.
(d) Each Casino War table must have a discard rack securely attached to the top of the dealer’s side of the table, as approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g).
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 651b.1 (relating to Top Card).
§ 651a.3. Cards; number of decks; dealing shoe.
(a) Casino War shall be played with six or eight decks of cards that are identical in appearance and two cover cards.
(b) All cards used in Casino War shall be dealt from a manual dealing shoe. The dealing shoe must be located on the table in a location approved by the Bureau of Casino Compliance in accordance with § 601a.10(g) (relating to approval of table game layouts, signage and equipment).
(c) If an automated card shuffling device is utilized, Casino War shall be played with 12 to 16 decks of cards in accordance with the following requirements:
(1) The cards shall be separated into two batches with an equal number of decks included in each batch.
(2) The cards in each batch must be of the same design, but the backs of the cards in one batch must be of a different color than the cards included in the other batch.
(3) One batch of cards shall be shuffled and stored in the automated card shuffling device while the other batch is being dealt or used to play the game.
(4) Both batches of cards shall be continuously alternated in and out of play, with each batch being used for every other dealing shoe.
(5) The cards from only one batch shall be placed in the discard rack at any given time.
(d) The decks of cards opened for use at a Casino War table shall be changed at least once every 24 hours.
(e) A certificate holder may utilize a dealing shoe or other device that automatically reshuffles and counts the cards, provided that the device is approved by the Bureau of Gaming Laboratory Operations, in accordance with § 461a.4 (relating to submission for testing and approval), prior to its use in the licensed facility. If a certificate holder is utilizing the approved device, subsections (b) and (c) do not apply.
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 651b.1 (relating to Top Card).
§ 651a.4. Opening of the table for gaming.
(a) After receiving six or more decks of cards at the table, the dealer shall inspect the cards for any defects. The floorperson assigned to the table shall verify the inspection.
(b) After the cards are inspected, the cards shall be spread out face up on the table for visual inspection by the first player to arrive at the table. The cards shall be spread in horizontal fan shaped columns by deck according to suit and in sequence.
(c) After the first player is afforded an opportunity to visually inspect the cards, the cards shall be turned face down on the table, mixed thoroughly by a washing of the cards and stacked.
(d) If an automated shuffling device is utilized and two batches of cards are received at the table, all the decks in one batch of cards shall be spread for inspection on the table separate from the decks in the other batch of cards. After the first player is afforded an opportunity to visually inspect the cards, each batch of cards shall separately be turned face down on the table and stacked.
(e) If the decks of cards received at the table are preinspected and preshuffled in accordance with § 603a.16 (u) or (v) (relating to cards; receipt, storage, inspection and removal from use), subsections (a) and (d) do not apply.
§ 651a.5. Shuffle and cut of the cards.
(a) Immediately prior to commencement of play, unless the cards were preshuffled in accordance with § 603a.16 (u) or (v) (relating to cards; receipt, storage, inspection and removal from use), after each dealing shoe of cards is dealt or when directed by a floorperson or above, the dealer shall shuffle the cards, either manually or by use of an automated card shuffling device, so that the cards are randomly intermixed. Upon completion of the shuffle, the dealer or device shall place the deck of cards in a single stack. The certificate holder may use an automated card shuffling device which, upon completion of the shuffling of the cards, inserts the stack of cards directly into the dealing shoe.
(b) After the cards have been shuffled and stacked, the dealer shall offer the stack of cards to be cut, with the backs facing away from the dealer, to the player as determined under subsection (c). If no player accepts the cut, the dealer shall cut the cards.
(c) The cut of the cards shall be offered to players in the following order:
(1) The first player to the table if the game is just beginning.
(2) The player on whose betting area the cover card appeared during the last round of play.
(3) If the cover card appeared on the dealer’s hand during the last round of play, the player at the farthest position to the right of the dealer. If this player refuses, the offer to cut the cards shall rotate to each player in a counterclockwise manner.
(4) If the reshuffle was initiated at the discretion of a floorperson or above, the player at the farthest position to the right of the dealer. If this player refuses, the offer to cut the cards shall rotate to each player in a counterclockwise manner.
(d) The player or dealer making the cut shall place a cover card in the stack at least ten cards in from the top or bottom of the stack. Once the cover card has been inserted, the dealer shall take all cards on top of the cover card and the cover card and place them on the bottom of the stack. The dealer shall then insert the second cover card in the stack at a position at least 1/4 of the way in from the bottom of the stack. The stack of cards shall then be inserted into the dealing shoe for commencement of play.
(e) After the cards have been cut and before the cards have been placed in the dealing shoe, a floorperson or above may require the cards to be recut if the floorperson or above determines that the cut was performed improperly or in any way that might affect the integrity or fairness of the game. If a recut is required, the cards shall be recut either by the player who last cut the cards, or by the next player entitled to cut the cards, as determined under subsection (c)(4). The stack of cards shall then be inserted into the dealing shoe for commencement of play.
(f) A reshuffle of the cards in the shoe shall take place after the cover card is reached in the shoe as required under § 651a.8(d) (relating to procedure for dealing the cards) except that a floorperson may determine that the cards should be reshuffled after any round of play.
(g) If there is no gaming activity at the Casino War table which is open for play, the cards shall be removed from the dealing shoe and the discard rack and spread out on the table face down unless a player requests that the cards be spread face up on the table. After the first player is afforded an opportunity to visually inspect the cards, the cards shall be:
(1) Mixed thoroughly by a washing of the cards, stacked, then shuffled and cut in accordance with this section, if there is not an automated shuffling device in use.
(2) Stacked and placed into the automated shuffling device to be shuffled, if an automated shuffling device is in use. The batch of cards already in the shuffler shall then be removed. Unless a player requests otherwise, the batch of cards removed from the shuffler does not need to be spread for inspection and reshuffled prior to being dealt, if:
(i) The automated card shuffling device stores a single batch of shuffled cards inside the shuffler in a secure manner.
(ii) The shuffled cards have been secured, released and prepared for play in accordance with procedures submitted to the Bureau of Gaming Operations and approved in accordance with § 465a.2 (relating to internal control systems and audit protocols).
(h) A certificate holder may utilize a dealing shoe or other device that automatically reshuffles and counts the cards, provided that the device is approved by the Bureau of Gaming Laboratory Operations, in accordance with § 461a.4 (relating to submission for testing and approval), prior to its use in the licensed facility. If a certificate holder is utilizing the approved device, subsections (b)—(g) do not apply.
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 651a.8 (relating to procedure for dealing the cards).
§ 651a.6. Casino War card rankings.
The rank of the cards used in Casino War, for the purpose of determining a winning hand, shall be, in order from the highest to lowest rank: ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2. The suit of a card does not have an effect on its rank.
§ 651a.7. Wagers.
(a) Wagers at Casino War shall be made by placing value chips or plaques on the appropriate betting area of the Casino War layout. Verbal wagers accompanied by cash may not be accepted.
(b) To participate in a round of play, a player shall place an Initial Wager.
(c) At the same time as an Initial Wager or a War Wager is placed, each player shall have the option of placing a Tie Wager which shall win if the deal results in a tie hand.
(d) Except as provided in § 651a.9(e) (relating to procedures for completion of each round of play; collection and payment of wagers), all wagers at Casino War shall be placed prior to the dealer announcing ‘‘no more bets’’ in accordance with the dealing procedures in § 651a.8 (relating to procedure for dealing the cards). Once a wager has been placed, a player may not handle, remove or alter any wagers until a decision has been rendered and implemented with respect to that wager.
(e) A certificate holder shall specify in its Rules Submission, required under § 601a.2 (relating to table games Rules Submissions), the number of adjacent boxes on which a player may place a wager in one round of play.
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 651a.8 (relating to procedure for dealing the cards).
§ 651a.8. Procedure for dealing the cards.
(a) All cards used to play Casino War shall be dealt from a dealing shoe. The dealer shall remove cards from the dealing shoe with the hand of the dealer that is closest to the dealing shoe and place the cards on the appropriate area of the layout with the opposite hand. The dealer may deal cards to the two betting positions closest to the dealing shoe with the same hand.
(b) After the cards have been cut and placed in the dealing shoe as required under § 651a.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards), the dealer shall remove the first card from the dealing shoe face down and, without revealing its rank to anyone, place it in the discard rack. Each new dealer who comes to the table shall also remove the first card from the dealing shoe face down and, without revealing its rank to anyone, place it in the discard rack.
(c) Prior to dealing any cards, the dealer shall announce ‘‘no more bets.’’ The dealer shall, starting with the player farthest to the dealer’s left and continuing in a clockwise manner, deal the cards in the following order:
(1) One card face up to each player who has placed an Initial Wager in accordance with § 651a.7 (relating to wagers).
(2) One card face up to the dealer.
(d) When the cover card is the first card in the dealing shoe at the beginning of a round of play or is reached during the deal of the cards, the dealer shall continue dealing the cards until that round of play is completed after which the cards shall be collected and reshuffled.
(e) Players and spectators may not handle, remove or alter any cards used to play Casino War.
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 651a.5 (relating to shuffle and cut of the cards); 58 Pa. Code § 651a.7 (relating to wagers); 58 Pa. Code § 651a.9 (relating to procedures for completion of each round of play; collection and payment of wagers); and 58 Pa. Code § 651b.1 (relating to Top Card).
§ 651a.9. Procedures for completion of each round of play; collection and payment of wagers.
(a) After the dealing procedures required under § 651a.8 (relating to procedure for dealing the cards) have been completed, the dealer shall, starting from his right and continuing around the table in a counterclockwise direction, compare the rank of each player’s card with that of the dealer’s card and settle all Initial and Tie Wagers as follows:
(1) If a player’s card is lower in rank than the dealer’s card, the dealer shall immediately collect the Initial Wager and Tie Wager, if applicable.
(2) If a player’s card is higher in rank than the dealer’s card, the player shall win his Initial Wager and lose his Tie Wager, if applicable.
(3) If the player’s card and the dealer’s card are of equal rank (a tie hand), the player shall select one of the options in subsection (c) as to his Initial Wager and win his Tie Wager, if applicable.
(b) Losing Initial and Tie Wagers made on the original deal shall be collected by the dealer and placed in the table inventory container. Winning Initial and Tie Wagers made on the original deal shall be paid by the dealer in accordance with the payout odds provided in § 651a.10(a)(1) and (2) (relating to payout odds).
(c) If a player has a tie hand, the player shall select one of the following options:
(1) The player may surrender 1/2 of his Initial Wager and end his participation in that round of play. If a player selects this option, the dealer shall collect 1/2 of the player’s Initial Wager and place it in the table inventory container. The dealer shall then return the remaining 1/2 of the Initial Wager to the player. The dealer shall then proceed around the table in a clockwise direction, repeating the process for each player with a tie hand who selects this option.
(2) The player may place a War Wager in an amount equal to the player’s Initial Wager, in accordance with subsection (e).
(d) After settling Initial Wagers and Tie Wagers on the original deal, the dealer shall collect the cards of all players except for the cards of those players with a tie hand who have elected to go to War. The collected cards shall be placed in the discard rack in a manner that permits the reconstruction of each hand of the original deal in the event of a question or dispute.
(e) If any player elects to place a War Wager upon the occurrence of a tie hand, the dealer shall confirm the placement of the War Wager prior to dealing additional cards. The player’s card and the dealer’s card from the original deal shall remain exposed during the War deal. The dealer shall offer any player who has elected to go to War the opportunity to also place a Tie Wager on the War deal.
(f) The War deal shall begin with the dealer removing three cards from the shoe face down and, without revealing the rank of the three cards to anyone, placing them in the discard rack and then dealing the next card face up to the player farthest to the dealer’s left who has placed a War Wager. The dealer shall place the player’s War card on the table adjacent to the player’s card from the original deal. The dealer shall then proceed around the table in a clockwise direction, repeating the process for each player who has placed a War Wager and the dealer.
(g) After the dealing procedures required under subsection (f) have been completed, the dealer shall, beginning from the dealer’s right and proceeding around the table in a counterclockwise direction, compare the rank of each player’s War card to the dealer’s War card and settle all War and Tie Wagers as follows:
(1) If the player’s War card is lower in rank than the dealer’s War card, the dealer shall immediately collect the Initial Wager, War Wager and Tie Wager, if applicable.
(2) If the player’s War card is higher in rank than the dealer’s War card, the Initial Wager shall be returned to the player, the player shall win his War Wager and lose his Tie Wager, if applicable.
(3) If the player’s War card and the dealer’s War card are of equal rank, the Initial Wager shall be returned to the player and the player shall win his War Wager and his Tie Wager, if applicable.
(h) Losing Initial, War and Tie Wagers shall be collected by the dealer and placed in the table inventory container. Winning War and Tie Wagers shall then be paid in accordance with the payout odds in § 651a.10(a)(2) and (3). After the collection of all losing wagers and the payment of all winning wagers from the War deal, the dealer shall remove all remaining cards from the table and place them in the discard rack in a manner that permits the reconstruction of each hand of the War deal in the event of a question or dispute.
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 651a.1 (relating to definitions); and 58 Pa. Code § 651a.7 (relating to wagers).
§ 651a.10. Payout odds.
The certificate holder shall pay out winning Casino War wagers as follows:
(1) An Initial Wager shall be paid at odds of 1 to 1.
(2) A Tie Wager shall be paid at odds of 10 to 1.
(3) A War Wager shall be paid at odds of 1 to 1, unless the War deal results in a tie hand, in which case a War Wager shall be paid at odds of 2 to 1.
Cross References This section cited in 58 Pa. Code § 651a.9 (relating to procedures for completion of each round of play; collection and payment of wagers).
§ 651a.11. Irregularities.
(a) A card found face up in the shoe may not be used in that round of play and shall be placed in the discard rack.
(b) A card drawn in error without being exposed shall be used as though it were the next card from the dealing shoe.
(c) If a card is not dealt to a player’s Initial Wager or Tie Wager in the original deal, the wager shall be void and returned to the player. The player shall be included in the next round of play.
(d) If an automated card shuffling device is being used and the device jams, stops shuffling during the shuffle or fails to complete a shuffle cycle, the cards shall be reshuffled.
(e) If an automated card shuffling device or automated dealing shoe malfunctions and cannot be used, the automated card shuffling device or automated dealing shoe must be covered or have a sign indicating that the automated card shuffling device or automated dealing shoe is out of order placed on the device before any other method of shuffling or dealing may be utilized at that table.
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